Ice maker



Sept. 25, 1962 L. M. sTANuLls ICE MAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 31,1959 INVENTOR.

Mi j 5 'RV/W, fim) Sepf- 25, 1962 L. M. sTANuLls 3,055,189

ICE MAKER Filed July 31, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ICE MAKER L. M. STANULIS .HHHH

Sept. 25, 1962 Filed July 81, 1959 3,055,189 ICE MAKER Leonard M.Stanulis, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed `Iuly 31, 1959, Ser. No. 830,791 8 Claims.(Cl. 62-353) This invention relates to ice body makers and in particularto ice body makers forming ice bodies seriatim and delivering the formedice bodies to a suitable storage means.

The instant invention comprehends an improved ice body maker wherein themold walls are mechanically separated from the ice body formed thereinto permit transfer of the ice body to a storage bin. No heating of theice bodies to effect a separation from the mold walls is required, thuseliminating the need for auxiliary heating apparatus and precludingfreezing together of the partially melted ice bodies in the storage bin.

One feature of the instant invention is the provision of an ice bodymaker having new and improved means for mechanically stripping the icebody from the walls of the mold during an ejection operation.

Another feature is the provision of such an ice -body maker having newand improved mold wall means.

A further feature is the provision of such an ice body maker wherein themold includes first wall means defining a downwardly widening peripheralboundary of a mold space and a second wall means extending across thelower end of the first wall means to define the bottom bonndary of themold space.

Still another feature is the provision of such an ice body maker whereinthe second wall is pivotally mounted to move alternatively toward andfrom the lower end of the first wall.

A still further feature is the provision of such an ice body makerincluding a cam structure associated with the first wall means and anactuator movably associated with the cam structure to effect aprogressive stripping of the first wall means from the ice body andengageable with the second wall means to effect the pivoting thereof.

Yet another feature is the provision of such an ice body maker includingmeans holding a quantity of water under pressure for 'delivery to themold space and means responsive to the pressure of the water in theholding means to move downwardly through the upper end of the mold spaceand free an ice body from the first wall means in the event that the icebody is not freed therefrom by the outward displacement of the firstwall means.

A yet further feature is the provision of such an ice body makerincluding means controlling the wali displacing means having new andimproved means responsive to the expansion of water in the mold space'during the freezing thereof to initiate a displacing operation.

Another feature is the provision of such an ice body maker wherein thedisplacing means is electrically operative and the controlling meansincludes a switch operated by the expansion responsive means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such an ice bodymaker including means biasing the second wall means to extcnd across thelower end of the first wall, the biasing means being arranged to permitthe weight vof the freed ice body to overcome the biasing means andpivot the second wall independently of the displacing means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from-the following description, taken in connection with the 'accompanyingdrawings. Of the drawings:

FIC-URE l is a Vertical section of a refrigeration apparatus providedWith an ice body member embodying the invention.

States Patent O 3,055,l89 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 FIGURE 2 is anenlarged, fragmcntary Vertical section of the ice body maker.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, transverse section |taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

'FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section taken substantially:along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the icebody maker.

In the exemplary embodimcnt of the invention as 'disclosed in thedrawings, an ice body maker genenally designated 10 is installed in thefreezer Chamber 11 of a refrigerator 12. The refrigerator is ofconventional construction having -a refrigerating Chamber 13 andsuitable doors 14 and 15 providing access to freezing Chamber 11 :andthe refrigerating chamber 13 respectively. Ice body maker 10 is shown`as installed on a refriger-ated shelf 16 and is connected 'to a watersupply duct 17 extending through the insulated rear wall 18 of therefrigerator 12. A storage bin 19 is disposedbelow ice body maker 10 ona suitable shelf 20 for receiving and storing the ice bodies ejectedfrom icebody maker 10.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 2 through 4, the ice bodymaker 10 includes a mold generally designated 21 arrange'd to receivewater from a water supply generally designated 22. An actuating meansgenerally designated 23 co-operates With mold 21 to effect ejection ofthe ice body from the mold and co-operates with water supply 2'2 tocontrol the delivery of water to the mold. The actuating means isoperated by an electrical solenoid 24 Controlled by a 'switch device 25which is closed automatically upon the freezing of the ice body in themold to effect seriatim formation of ice bodies and delivery thereof tothe storage bin 19.

More specically, mold 21 comprises reversely similar mold halves 26 and27 each having a fiat end 28, a downwardly widening, semi-frusto-conicalportion 29, a fiat extension 30 and a cam end 31. The flat ends 28 aresecured in facial jux-taposition by suitable means such as screws 32and, thereby retain the portions 29 in a confronting dispositi-on'defining -a frusto-conical mold cavity 33. The mold halves 26 and 27are formed of resiliently fiexible material permitting actuating means23 to effect a separation of the two halves -thereby causing aprogressive stripping of the wall portions 29 from an ice body formed inmold cavity 33 as is described more fully below.

Mold 21 is secured to shelf 16 by means of flange 34 projectinglaterally from the fiat end 28 of each of the mold halves 26 and 27 andsecured to the shelf by suit- -able means such as screws 35. The shelfis provided with a circular opening 36 through which the lower end 37 ofeach wall portion 29 projects, the di'ameter of lopening 36 beingsuificien'tly larger than the adjacent portion of end 37 to permit theoutward displacement of the wall portions 29 during the ejectionoperation.

The lower end of the mold space or cavity 33 is closed by a plate 38having a turned end 39 secured to a turned Vend 40 of a pivot arm 41 bysuitable means such as screws 42. The plate is urged upwardly againstthe lower end 3'7 of the mold wall portion's 29 by a pair of Springs 43.Each spring includes a coil portion 44 extending around a |cylindricalvlateral projection 45 of pivot arm '41, 'a first'end 46 'bearingagainst the under side of shelf 16, 'and a second end 47 bearing againstthe upper surface of an `outer end 48` of pivot arm 41. As best seen inFIGURES 2 and 3, the pvot larm 41 is carried for pivotal movement aboutthe laxis of projecti'ons 45 by means of a shaft 49 extending coaxi'allytherethrough and journ'alled in `a pair of legs 50depending from fianges34 .m and extending through suitable slots 51 in shelf 16.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, cam end 31 of each mold half includes aVertical, fiat bottom portion 119 and an inclined, fiat upper portion120. Actuating means 34 includes 'a rod 53 vertically slidable in 'apair of vertically aligned fholes 54 and 55 in an upright support 56.T'he lower portion of rod 53 is defined by an' end 57 having a diameterslightly smaller than the spacing between bottom portion 119 of cam ends31 and a frusto-conical portion 58 Widening upwardly from end 57. End 57projects through yan opening 59 in shelf 16 to engage the outer end 60of plate 38 when the rod is moved downwardly. The length of end 57 aboveshelf 16 is substantially greater than 'the 'length of cam bottornportion '119 so that a. substantial downward movement of plate 'end 60is eifeeted before frusto-eonical portion 58 of the rod engages the camportions to separate mold wall portions 29 of the mold halves;

Rod 53 lis biased upwardly by `a ooil spring 61 bottomed in a recess 62in support 56 and engaging a radially enlarged outer end 63 of the rod.Downward movement of the rod is eifected by 'a lever 64 engaging rod end63 and movable downwardly about a pivot 65 by a pin 66 carried byarmature v67 of solenoid 24, which armature is normally biased to anupper position, 'as seen in FIG. l, and urged 'downwardly uponenergization of 'the solenoid. The downward movement of rod 53 effectedby solenoid 24 'causes apivoting of plate '38 about 'the 'axis of shaft49 and breaks the plate 38 free of an ice body formed in mold space 33.The weight of a freed ice body in mold space 33 is sufiicient toovercome spring 43 vand cause the plate 38 to continue its pivotalmovement downwardly about the axis of shaft 49 until the ice body clearslower end 37 of the mold w-all portions 29 -and falls into storage bin19. The 'spring 43 then pivots the plate 38 in a clockwise direction, asseen in FIGURE 2, until end 60 ofthe plate abuts lower end 57 of .therod 53. Upon de-energization of solenoid 24, spring 61 urges the rodupwardly permitting spring 43- to restore the plate 38 to the positionof FIGURE 2 across the lower end 37 of the rnold wall portions 29.

Water supply 22 of ice body maker includes a first housing 68 secured'to support 56 defining a measuring cham'ber 69 `and second housing 92defining a delivery Chamber 70 to which the housing 68 is secured bysuit- 'able means (not shown). A diaphragm 71 closing one end ofmeasuring Chamber 69 is interposed between housing 68 'and support 56. Adelivery tube 72 extends through housing 68 and is provided with 'aninner end 73 spaced 'a 'small distance from the fiat plane of diaphragm71 serving as a valve seat against which a portion 74 of the'diaphragmis urged to close 'the tube. 'Ihe seating of di'aphragm portion 74 ontube end 73 is effected by a pin 75 extending slidably through 'a bore76 in support 56 aligned with tube end 73. A similar pin 77 extendsslidably through a bore 78 in support 56 and 'a hole 79 in diaphragm 71.Pin 77 is provided at its inner end with a closure member 80 which seatson a wall portion 81 of the housing 68. A tubular boss 82 extends fromwall portion 81 into delivery chamber 70 and is provided with a passage83 providing for transfer of water from measuring chamber 69 to deliverych'arnber 70 when closure member 80 is spaced from wall portion 81.

Each of pins 75 and 77 is urged inwardly (to the right as seen in FIGURE2) by a bifurcated leaf spring 84 having ra bight 85 secured to support56 by suitable means such as 'screws 86. Upper leg 87 of spring 84 'issecured intermediate bight 85 'and its outer end 88 to pin 75 and thelower leg 89 is secured intermediate vbight 85 and its ou'ter end 90 topin 77. The spring legs are biased inwardly (to the right as seen inFIG- URE 2).

Rod 53 is provided with an elonga-ted recess .91 extending from supportrecess 62 to slightly above pin 77 when :the rod is in its uppermostposition. End 88 of the upper spring leg 87 is free, thus permitting leg87 to urge the pin 75 inwardly rat this time, but end of lower spring 89is retained in an outer position by the engagement of end 90 with theunrelieved surface of rod 53. However, when olenoid 24 is energized,lthe rod moves downwardly sufliciently tonengage the unrelieved portionof the rod above recess 91 with end 88 of upper leg 87, thereby movingpin 75 outwardly and permitting di'aphragm portion 74 to unseat fromtube end 73, while end 90 of lower spring leg 89is`disposed within rodrecess 91 permitting pin `77 to move inwardly and rapidly seat closuremember 80 on wall portion-81 across the outer end of passage 83. It isto be noted that passage 82 is closed before tube end 73 is opened inthis operation.

Delivery chamber 70 is defined by a housing portion 92 secured tohousing 68 by suitable means (not shown) and having interposedtherebetween a flexible diaphragm 93. 'The upper surface of housingportion 92 is concave at central portion 94 in alignment With a circularopening 95 in housing 68. A rod 96 is secured at its upper end by a-clamp 97 to the diaphragm 93 coaxially of opening 95 -and concavesurface 94. The lower wall 98 of housing 92 comprises a discperipher'ally threaded to housing 92 and provided with 'a central bore99 aligned vertically with a bore 100 in 'the upper wall of housing 92,through which bore rod 96 extends for free Vertical reciprocation. Thus,Whenever closure member 80 is seated 'on Wall portion 81 -and diaphragmportion 74 is unseated from tube end 73, the water delivered throughinlet tube 72 is retained in measuring Chamber 69 under pressure andurges diap'hragm 93 downwardly into engagement with concave surface 94.'his causes rod 96 to move downwardly through bores 99 and 100 urgingthe lower end 101 of the :rod forcibly into the upper portion of moldspace 33 and forcing any ice body remaining in space 33 downwardlytherefrom. Bore 99 in lower wall 98 has a diameter substantially largerthan the diameter of rod 96 so that when closure `member 80 is unseatedfrom wall portion 81, water may pass freely from measuring charnber 69through passage 83 through delivery chamber 70 and downwardly 'throughbore 99 into mold space 33. The volume of measuring chamber 69 is `madeequal to the volume of water properly filling mold space 33 to form anice body therein. Thus, an automatic measuring of the water delivered tothe mold space is eifected.

Measuring chamber 69 is refilled after each ejection operation by aseating of closure member 80 on wall portion 81 and an unseating ofdiaphragm portion 74 from end 73 of tube 72. This permits water to passfrom supply duet 17 through tube 72 into measuring chamber 69. 'llhe airin chamber 69 is exhausted through a ball valve 102 of conventionalconstruction mounted in the -top of housing 68 which closes when theChamber is completely filled with water. As best seen in FIGURE 2, tube72 is provided with suitable threaded outer end 103 for connection ofwater supply duct 17 thereto.

The operation of ice body maker 10 is Controlled automatically by switchdevice 25 which is carried on a spring support 104 secured to housingportion 92 by suitable means such `as screws 105 land having :a hole 106through t which rod 96 passes. The actuator |107 of switch 25 bearsagainst one end 108 of a spring arm 109, the spring arm having itsopposite end 1110 secured by suitable means such as screws `111 vtooutwardly projecting flanges 112 on mold half fiat ends 28. Spring armend 108 rests on projections 113 on mold half extensions 30 to dispose adownwardly offset por-tion 114 of the spring arm slightly within the'upper end of mold space 33 and directly below lower end 101 of rod 96.The expansion of the ice body in mold space 33 during the freezingoperation causes the upper surface thereof, to abutV offset portion 1'14of spring arm 109 and urge end 108 thereof upwardly to `move actuator107 of switch 25 correspondingly and close the switch. As seen in FIGURE5, switch 25 is connected in series With the coil 115 of the solenoid24; thus, the completion of the formation of the ice body effects anautomatic movement of the rod 53 downwardly to efiect the ejection ofthe ice body from the mold space. When the ice body is ejected from moldspace 3'3, it will no longer have an upward urging action on spring arm189. However, before the ice body is so ejected from the mold space, therod 53 moves downwardly sufficiently to cause a projection 116 thereonto pass through a slot 117 in support 56 and engage an arm 118 securedto the switch 25 to move the switch on support td downwardly and cause-actuator 1(37 to remain in engagement with spring arm end 108 therebymaintaining the switch in closed condition. However, when the pressureof the water in the measuring Chamber 69 becomes sufficient to fiex thediaphragm 93 downwardly to urge end 161 of the rod 96 into the upper endof mold space 33, the end '101 also engages the offset portion 114 ofthe spring arm 1055 and moves the end 168 thereof downwardly away fromactuator 1117 thereby opening switch 25 and permitting the rod 53 to bemoved by spring 61 back to its uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The functioning of ice body maker in forming ice bodies seriatim anddelivering the ice bodies to storage bin 19 is as follows. Assuming thatthe mold space 33 has been previously filled with water subsequent to anejection of an ice body, the rod 53 will be 'in the uppermost positionof FIGURE 2 with switch 25 open, diaphragm portion 74 closing the innerend 73 of water inlet '72 and measuring chamber 69 drained. The bottomWall of mold space 33 defined by plate 38 is retained across the lowerend 37 of wall portions 29 retaining the water in the mold space duringthe freezing operation. As the ice body forms, it expands until itsupper surface urges offset portion 114 of spring arm 109 upwardly toclose switch 25 as discussed above. This energizes solenoid coil 115,drawing armature 67 of the solenoid downwardly and thereby pivotinglever 64 downwardly to move rod 53 downwardly against the action ofspring 61. Lower end 57 of rod 53 abuts outer end tti' of plate 38 andpivots the plate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2 to stripprogressively the plate from the bottom of the ice body in mold space33. Further down- Ward movement of the rod 53 causes frusto-conicalportion 58 thereof to wedge first against the upper inclined portion 12hof cam end 31 to initiate a spreading apart of the mold halves 26 and27. Continued downward movement causes the frusto-conical po-rtion 58 topass into the space between the Vertical lower portions 119 of the camends 31 and further space the mold halves to effect a progressivestripping of the mold wall portions 29 from the ice body in mold space33. This normally Will free the ice body from the mold walls and permitthe weight thereof to pivot plate 38 sufiiciently downwardly to allowthe ice body to fall into storage bin 19. If, however, the ice bodyshould adhere to the wall portions 29, rod 96 efiects a positiveejection -thereof Thus, as the rod 53 moves to its lowermost positionend 99 of lower spring leg 89 is first permitted to move closure memberinto seating engagement with wall portion 81 to close the outlet passage83, and second, the spring leg end 88 is cammed outwardly by the rod tospace diaphragm portion 74- from tube end 73. The pressure of the waterin measuring chamber 69 forces diaphragm 93 downwardly against surface94 and urges 'rod end 1M into the upper end of mold space 33 to assurean ejection of an ice body therefrom. At the same time, the rod end 1%*1moves the spring arm 169 downwardly to release the actuator 197 andpermit switch 25 to open. The resulting de-energization of solenoid '24permits spring 61 to return the rod 53 to the upper position whereindiaphragm portion 74 is first seated across tube end 73, and second,closure member 80 is spaced from wall portion S1. Thus, the measuredquantity of water in measuring chamber 69 is allowed to pass therefrorninto the mold space 33 as discussed above to form in the mold space asubsequen-t ice body.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it isto be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

l. An ice body maker comprising: a mold having first, fiexible wallmeans defining 'a downwardly widening peripheral boundary of a moldspace, and second wall means extending across the lower end of the firstwall means separably vfrom the first wall means, said second wall meansdefining a bottom boundary of the mold space; and means for displacingsaid first wall means outwardly relative to said space, said displacingmeans displacing said second wall means downwardly relative to saidfirst Wall means prior to the outward displacing of the first wall meansthereby to free .the wall means from an ice body formed in said space,said displacing means including a cam structure associated with thefirst wall means and an actuator movably associated with the camstructure to effect 'a progressive stripping of the first wall meansfrom the ice body, said actuator firstly engaging :the second wall meansto effect the downward displacement thereof.

2. An ice body maker comprising: a mold having first wall means defininga peripheral 'boundary of a mold space, and second wall means across thelower end of the first wall and defining a bottom boundary of the moldspace; means for displacing outwardly relative to said space each ofsaid walls to free the same from an ice body formed in said space; meansholding a quantity of water under pressure for delivery to the moldspace; and means responsive to the pressure of the water in the holdingmeans to move downwardly through the upper end of the mold space andfree and ice body from said first wall means in the event that the icebody is not freed therefrom by the outward displacement of the firstWall means.

3. An ice body maker comprising: a mold having a first wall defining aperipheral boundary of a mold space, and a second wall across the lowerend of the first wall and defining a bottom boundary of the mold space;means for displacing outwardly relative to said space each of said wallsto free the same from an ice body formed in said space; meanscontrolling the displacing means including an element responsive to theexpansion of the ice body in the mold space during the freezing thereofto initiate a displacing operation.

4. The ice body maker of claim 3 wherein the element extends across theupper end of the mold space.

5. An ice body maker comprising: a mold having first wall means defininga peripheral boundary of a mold space, and second wall means across thelower end of the first Wall and defining a bottom boundary of the moldspace; means for displacing outwardly relative to said space each ofsaid walls to free the same from an ice body formed in said space; meansholding a quantity of water under pressure for delivery to the moldspace; means responsive to the pressure of the water in the holdingmeans to move downwardly through the upper end of the mold space andfree an ice body from said first wall means in the event that the icebody is not freed therefrom by the outward displacement of the firstwall means; and means controlling the displacing means including anelement responsive to the expansion of the ice body in the mold spaceduring the freezing thereof to initiate a displacing operation.

6. The ice body maker of claim 5 wherein the element extends across theupper end of the mold space, the controlling means includes a switchclosed by said element to initiate the displacing operation, and thepressure respons'ive means ac'ts further to reposition the elementpermitting said switch to open.

7. An ice body maker comprising: a mold having a first Wall defining aperipheral boundary of a moid space, and

a second Wall; means mounting the second Wall for pivotal movement;means biasing the second Wall to extend across the lower end of thefirst wall and define the bottom boundary'of the mold space; and meansdisplacing outwardly relative to said space said first Wall to free thesame from an ice body formed in said space, and pivoting said secondwall to free the same from the ice body, said biasing means beingarranged to permit the VWeight of the freed iceV body to overcome thebiasing means and pivot the second wall independently of the displacingmeans.

8. In ice body maker comprising: a mold having a first Wall formed of arelatively non-stretchable material defining a peripheral boundary of amold space, and a second Wall extending across the lower 'end of thefirst Wall separable from the first Wall, said second Wall defining abottom boundary of the mold space; first displacing means adjacent oneside of said mold for displacing said second wall downwardly relative tosaid space for breaking said second wall free from an ice body formed inVsaid space; second displacing means for subsequently displacing saidfirst Wall outwardly relative to said space for detaching said firstwal] from an ice body formed in said space, said second Wall beingrigid; pivot means carrying said second wall at one end thereof Wherebysaid second Wall is pivotally displaced by said first displacing meansto break said second Wall free from the ice body; and resilient meansfor continuously urging said second wall toward said first Wall.

References Cited in the fiie of this patent UNITED STATES PAT ENTS559,788 Perrottet May 5, 1896 1,278,217 Reid Sept. 10, 1918 1,948,146Warren Feb. 20, 1934 2,026,227 Foraker Dec. 31, 1935 2,435,285 LuciaFeb. 3, 1948 2,466,831 Van Vleck Apr. 12, 1949 2,723,534 WilbushewichNov. 15, 1955

